UN calls for urgent de-escalation of Pakistan-India tensions

United Nations Secretary General Ban ki-Moon has called for urgent de-escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan and an end to violence in the region.

In a meeting with Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN, Dr. Maleeha Lodhi, the Secretary General said he was saddened by the loss of life of two Pakistani soldiers and he extended condolences to the Government of Pakistan and the families of the deceased.

Briefing him about the escalating situation, Ambassador Lodhi said that India’s claim of carrying out a surgical strike across the Line of Control was false and committed aggression against Pakistan. She said the responsibility for the escalating crisis rests entirely on India.

She said India has provoked this crisis to divert international attention away from the indigenous Kashmiri uprising against Indian occupation.

She asked the Secretary General to play a role in bringing an end to the grave human rights violations committed by Indian security forces in occupied Kashmir.

She urged the Secretary General to intervene boldly and unequivocally by calling on India to halt its aggressive actions and provocations, lest these lead to an even more dangerous situation.

Responding to the detailed briefing, the Secretary General regretted the fact that United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan was unable to fully function due to India’s non-cooperation.

The Secretary General also conveyed his dismay at the cancellation of the SAARC summit saying this could have a good opportunity for dialogue.